The report card arrives, the envelope nervously torn open, the baited breath… and the feeling of elation when he or she has excelled beyond the highest expectations.
Now, we don’t have a child in school, but we do have a star
performer in our wine portfolio that deserves recogition for a year of golden
excellence – and for well and truly living up to the reputation set by its
older sibling vintages.
It’s sometimes hard to believe that the vineyards rooted on
the steep slopes of Constantia Nek were planted as recently as 2002. In this
time, the Eagles’ Nest name has become synonymous with Shiraz – our flagship
variety – and yet our Shiraz 2011 is just the 6th commercial vintage
to be produced. Covering only 4 hectares, the Shiraz vines are happily at home
in our unique terroir and have created wines of exceptional pedigree, year
after year.
Our youngest, the Shiraz 2011, has had a year to remember.
Its report card looks something like this:
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Received an “Outstanding” rating (18.75 points,
95+) from Decanter Magazine’s esteemed December tasting panel. It was also the
only wine to be selected in the personal top 3 of each of the panel members.
o
Rated 19/20 (96/100) by Tim Atkin MW: “Even in a tricky vintage, this cool-climate
Shiraz from Constantia Neck shows its class. Stuart Botha is one of the best
young winemakers in the Cape and this intense, aromatic red demonstrates, yet
again, his affinity with the grape. DRINK 2014-2021”
o
Rated 18.5/20 (95/100) by Greg Sherwood MW: “I loved the freshness! Complex nose
of charcoal embers, wood smoke and pepper with forest berry, crème brûlée and
subtle leafy complexity. Plenty of sweet red plum fruit and a hint of railway
yard. Impressive ripeness”
o
Rated 18.5/20 (95/100) by Guy
Harcourt-Wood: “Pure wild
berry fruit with violets and black pepper framed by tight, grippy tannins. A
sleek offering with subtle oak, beautifully lifted acidity. A delightful wine
to drink, it oozes class and finishes long”
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Received a rating of 92 points from Robert
Parker’s Wine Advocate
o
“…it has an engaging, quite sensual bouquet with layers of black cherry, blueberry and violet that is very well defined. The palate is very smooth in the mouth with well judged acidity, fine tension and good structure on the edgy, minerally finish. This is ‘class’… I have been waxing lyrical about Eagles’ Nest since my first South Africa report for this publication. The 12ha estate produces some exemplary wines and their latest releases are no different…” – Neal Martin, Wine Advocate
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Awarded Double Gold at the 2014 Veritas Wine
Awards
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Received a rating of 4.5 stars (Highly
Recommended, nominated for 5 stars) in Platter’s South African Wine Guide’s
2015 edition
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Selected for the Shiraz Association of South
Africa’s Top 20 list
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Recipient of a Platinum award and the award for
Top Shiraz at the South African Wine Index (SAWi) Awards
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Selected for Classic FM Magazine’s Top 6 Shiraz
Unlike a student bringing home an excellent report card that
only his or her family will really enjoy, our Shiraz’s all-star performance can
be shared with all wine lovers! If you’d like to welcome this award-winner into
your home this festive season, make sure to contact Kaylee on kstewart@eaglesnestwines.com or on 021 794 4095.